Sponges growing in the tank

[Levinson]

These sponges are growing pretty well in my tank. I think there might be about 3~4 different kinds. They must be eating something to grow so I'm guessing they are contributing to the nutrient uptake one way or another. Well, I hope they are. I also read somewhere (in the past, I don't remember where exactly) that sponges can alter the bacteria makeup and biodiversity of a saltwater tank by hosting nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria that are different from ones growing elsewhere such as live rock. I'm not sure if this is true or not but I like the sound of that. It would be nice if I could add more variety but I have yet to find LFS that sells sponges here. I might ask if I can get some off the live rocks when they bring them in.

 

[Subsea]

@Levinson
Where are you located? Those look like cryptic sponges. I have seeded them in cryptic refugium.

However, I get ornamental sponges from the Caribbean. Check out availability from live.plants

https://www.live-plants.com/spongesampler.htm
I have found the yellow ball sponges to be the hardiest.

There are tens of thousands of differrent sponge species. In reading peer review articles of Mediterranean sponge diet; it is evident that sponges have diverse feeding habits depending on availability of food and for that reason they are successful at survival. In the case study that I read: phytoplankton, bacteria, and zooplankton comprise the sponges diet.

While Cryptic sponges feed on POC (Particulate Organic Carbon) , they are unique in how they process DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon) and turn it into DIC (Dissolved Inorganic Carbon) and carbon rich detritus that feeds the microbial food web.

PS: Cryptic Sponges process enough organic carbon to double in size every 20 minutes were it not for exudates of carbon rich detritus that fuels the microbial food web.

 

[Levinson]

@Levinson
Where are you located? Those look like cryptic sponges. I have seeded them in cryptic refugium.

However, I get ornamental sponges from the Caribbean. Check out availability from live.plants

https://www.live-plants.com/spongesampler.htm
I have found the yellow ball sponges to be the hardiest.

There are tens of thousands of differrent sponge species. In reading peer review articles of Mediterranean sponge diet; it is evident that sponges have diverse feeding habits depending on availability of food and for that reason they are successful at survival. In the case study that I read: phytoplankton, bacteria, and zooplankton comprise the sponges diet.

While Cryptic sponges feed on POC (Particulate Organic Carbon) , they are unique in how they process DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon) and turn it into DIC (Dissolved Inorganic Carbon) and carbon rich detritus that feeds the microbial food web.

PS: Cryptic Sponges process enough organic carbon to double in size every 20 minutes were it not for exudates of carbon rich detritus that fuels the microbial food web.

Thanks for the info. I live in South Korea so as much as I would like to get the sponges in the link, I don't think I'm allowed to.
It's interesting how these cryptic sponges are growing in my display tank. Some grow in lid areas or areas with a reasonable amount of flow. Maybe the amount of light or the flow is not strong enough to deter the growth.

 

[Subsea]

These pictures are 30G sponge cleaning tank using blue leg hermit crabs to clean yellow ball sponges, orange elephant ear sponges and red tree sponge, that is in “dire straights”.

 

[Subsea]

Thanks for the info. I live in South Korea so as much as I would like to get the sponges in the link, I don't think I'm allowed to.
It's interesting how these cryptic sponges are growing in my display tank. Some grow in lid areas or areas with a reasonable amount of flow. Maybe the amount of light or the flow is not strong enough to deter the growth.

If you have live rock from the ocean, cryptic sponges will grow on the dark side in your display. I can only assume that circulation is less on backside of rocks.
In rearranging rock work in mature tanks, they will show up

 

[Levinson]

While Cryptic sponges feed on POC (Particulate Organic Carbon) , they are unique in how they process DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon) and turn it into DIC (Dissolved Inorganic Carbon) and carbon rich detritus that feeds the microbial food web.

PS: Cryptic Sponges process enough organic carbon to double in size every 20 minutes were it not for exudates of carbon rich detritus that fuels the microbial food web.

Does this mean you can grow them by dosing carbon such as vinegar or vodka? That is quite interesting.

 

[Weaverjay101]

I personally dose both carbon as well as reef energy ab+ and have seen an increase in sponge growth

 

[Pistondog]

These sponges are growing pretty well in my tank. I think there might be about 3~4 different kinds. They must be eating something to grow so I'm guessing they are contributing to the nutrient uptake one way or another. Well, I hope they are. I also read somewhere (in the past, I don't remember where exactly) that sponges can alter the bacteria makeup and biodiversity of a saltwater tank by hosting nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria that are different from ones growing elsewhere such as live rock. I'm not sure if this is true or not but I like the sound of that. It would be nice if I could add more variety but I have yet to find LFS that sells sponges here. I might ask if I can get some off the live rocks when they bring them in.

To encourage sponge growth, you might dose some silicates once or twice a week.